System and method to restore computer files

1. A computerized process comprising: receiving at a processor a request to restore a file to a memory device; determining one or more media types and one or more media residencies associated with a plurality of backups of the file, each of the media types and media residencies having a numerical restore factor associated with it; determining a calculated restore factor for each combination of media type and media residency using the restore factor of each media type and each media residency, wherein determining the calculated restore factor comprises performing a mathematical operation using a numerical restore factor of a media type and a numerical restore factor of a media residency; selecting a media type and a media residency as a function of the calculated restore factor; and restoring the file to the memory device using the selected media type and the selected media residency.

2. The computerized process of claim 1 , comprising selecting a different media type when the selected media type is not available.

3. The computerized process of claim 1 , comprising selecting a different media residency when the selected media residency is not available.

4. The computerized process of claim 1 , comprising considering a preferred factor in selecting the media type and media residency.

5. The computerized process of claim 4 , wherein the preferred factor is determined by a user.

6. The computerized process of claim 4 , wherein the preferred factor is used to determine a media type and a media residency combination to select when two media type and media residency combinations have the same calculated restore factor.

7. The computerized process of claim 1 , wherein the media type comprises one or more of a file system device, an XOsoft™ replication, an online tape medium, and an offline tape medium.

8. The computerized process of claim 1 , wherein the media residency comprises one or more of a storage area network (SAN) device, a local area network (LAN) device, a local drive, a local small computer system interface (SCSI) device, an internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) device, and a wide area network (WAN) device.

9. The computerized process of claim 1 , wherein a most favorable calculated restore factor comprises a calculated restore factor of a greatest magnitude.

10. The computerized process of claim 1 , wherein the determining a calculated restore factor comprises multiplying a restore factor of a media type by a restore factor of a media residency.

11. The computerized process of claim 1 , wherein the memory device comprises a disk drive file system coupled to the processor.

12. The computerized process of claim 1 , wherein the restore factor is determined as a function of a speed and a convenience of the media type or the media residency.

13. A system comprising a processor, the processor configured to: receive a request to restore a file to a memory device; determine one or more media types and one or more media residencies associated with a plurality of backups of the file, each of the media types and media residencies having a numerical restore factor associated with it; determine a calculated restore factor for each combination of media type and media residency using the restore factor of each media type and each media residency, wherein determining the calculated restore factor comprises performing a mathematical operation using a numerical restore factor of a media type and a numerical restore factor of a media residency; select a media type and a media residency as a function of the calculated restore factor; and restore the file to the memory device using the selected media type and the selected media residency.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to select a different media type when the selected media type is not available or a different media residency when the selected media residency is not available.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to consider a preferred factor in selecting the media type and media residency.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a calculated restore factor comprising multiplying a restore factor of a media type by a restore factor of a media residency.

17. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor execute a process comprising: receiving a request to restore a file to a memory device; determining one or more media types and one or more media residencies associated with a plurality of backups of the file, each of the media types and media residencies having a numerical restore factor associated with it; determining a calculated restore factor for each combination of media type and media residency using the restore factor of each media type and each media residency, wherein determining the calculated restore factor comprises performing a mathematical operation using a numerical restore factor of a media type and a numerical restore factor of a media residency; selecting a media type and a media residency as a function of the calculated restore factor; and restoring the file to the memory device using the selected media type and the selected media residency.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , comprising instructions for selecting a different media type when the selected media type is not available or a different media residency when the selected media residency is not available.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , comprising instructions for considering a preferred factor in selecting the media type and media residency.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , comprising instructions for determining a calculated restore factor comprising multiplying a restore factor of a media type by a restore factor of a media residency.